According to the Carlos III Health Institute, the sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Spain are on the rise. The report "Epidemiological Surveillance of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Spain, 2023" analyses this situation, highlighting a growing trend for the year 2023.
According to the report, from 2021 to 2023, gonococcal infection increased by 42.61 TP3T, syphilis by 24.11 TP3T. Between 2016 and 2023, chlamydia grew by 20.71 TP3T annually.
Since the early 2000s, the incidence of STIs such as gonorrhea, syphilis and chlamydia has increased, especially among young men. However, the age affected varies depending on the disease. In the case of chlamydia, for example, it is more common in people under 25 years of age, unlike lymphogranuloma venereum.
The report highlights the difficulty of comparing incidence rates between autonomous communities due to variations in their surveillance systems. Although each community records cases individually, it is crucial to improve the quality of the data, especially in aspects related to the mode of transmission.
The World Health Organization's 2024 Report on STI Strategies paints a worrying global picture. STI rates continue to rise, and reduction targets for 2030 appear unattainable. Infections, far from declining, show an increasing trend that emphasizes the need for more effective and coordinated interventions.
The STI Prevention and Control Plan in Spain
To combat this problem, Spain has implemented the HIV and STI Prevention and Control Plan 2021-2030, which seeks to eliminate STIs as a public health problem by 2030. This plan is based on a comprehensive approach, which includes prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, care for chronic conditions, improving the quality of life of patients and, in addition, the fight against stigma and discrimination.
New STI Management Guidelines and meeting in Valencia
As part of this strategy, the Ministry of Health and the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC) have collaborated in the development of the new STI Management Guides, which will be presented at the conference “Challenges and opportunities in addressing STIs”, to be held in Valencia on 21 and 22 October 2024. This event will bring together experts and health authorities to analyse the current situation of STIs in Spain, evaluate screening models and discuss innovative strategies that can help reverse the upward trend of these infections in the country.
Towards a more effective public health model
The event in Valencia represents a crucial space for the exchange of knowledge and the identification of improvements in the prevention and management of STIs in Spain. In a context where data reflect a sustained increase in these infections, both the new guidelines and the comprehensive plan seek to strengthen the public health system and generate a positive impact in the fight against STIs at a national level.
